ICO sales are a means of raising capital by offering shares in a newly launched cryptocurrency in exchange for cash or other digital currencies such as Bitcoin, LEOcoin or Ethereum. After a sale the consumer shares in the subsequent risks or rewards associated with their level of commitment.

the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority – a government financial regulatory body - issued a warning to potential shareholders regarding the safety of investing in ICOs, and across the Atlantic, Jay Clayton, Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, warned buyers to beware when investing.

In their statement the FCA warned of the international nature of the ICO’s space - with many new market entrants based abroad – the sector has to date remained a unregulated space that offers no investor protection, price volatility, the potential for fraud, and in some cases inadequate protection.

All these are valid concerns and there have been instances of deception in this fast moving sector, however legitimate entrepreneurs have so far raised more than $1 billion, some venture capitalists have seen their assets soar with the continued rise of currencies such as Bitcoin, whilst others have disappointingly fallen victim to predatory schemes promoted by shadowy crooks.

Investing in an ICO can be a great way of turning a profit, however, as with any business venture I would recommend you do your homework thoroughly before committing any of your funds.

Financial Technology Does Not Have Borders

Dan Andersson blogs in the Huffington post about how Britain and the EU have taken their eye off the ball. As they negotiate Brexit and argue around trade agreements and currency clearing they forget that new technologies are increasingly taking these decisions out of their hands.

The power of peer-to-peer digital currency trading is that it is between individuals on a global scale, no banks or states playing middleman. That is where the power will lie in future. Britain's politicians need to start thinking bigger than Britain - financial technologies don't need to have borders.

My vision is that London will be "the global centre for fintech", I still believe this country has the infrastructure, skills, and entrepreneurial drive to be the centre of global fintech in the future.

LEOcoin – Shaping the future of digital currency

LEOcoin has just undergone a unique upgrade which is set to revolutionise the digital currency industry. Providing innovative new facilities to increase privacy and security, So, what are these intriguing new improvements? Well, privacy is at the heart of LEOcoin, which is also defined as a ‘private form of digital cash', and under the upgrade, this is enhanced even further, with new features to help users transact and communicate yet more securely. Dan Andersson, LEOcoin Founder and Chairman of the LEOcoin Foundation, explains the motivation for this innovation

Is There Privacy In The Digital Age?

Many people use digital currencies because banking regimes in their own countries are restrictive, costly, or inaccessible to them. Others use them because of the political restrictions in their countries. Being able to trade freely and unimpeded is a fundamental of economic prosperity.

Privacy is the cornerstone of all fundamental rights. A new resolution on the right to privacy in the digital age was adopted on 21 November 2016 at the UN General Assembly. We truly believe in those rights, and want to provide the technology that gives the public the ability to exercise it.

The crypto world has witnessed the limitations of even the top cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin when it comes to ensuring anonymity for users. While there are attempts towards achieving the goal with the advent of new and improved altcoins, only a few have substantial proofs of achieving the said goal.

The LEOcoin Upgrade is here

It brings a new world of technology to the blockchain and adds new features to LEOcoin. These new features mean that there are things that LEOcoin wallets can now do, that do not exist in any digital currency in the world. The LEOcoin Upgrade is a leap forward for how people can use Digital Currency.

From today, LEOcoin wallets can be used to communicate privately with other LEOcoin wallets. This change turns the communications industry on its head and creates a new way of communicating privately using digital currency wallets.

Also from today, LEOcoin wallets can send LEOcoin privately to any other LEOcoin wallet in the world.

These two improvements, combined with the innovative approach of LEOcoin to Proof of Stake, mean that LEOcoin can now do things in ways that no other digital currency can. Backed by the LEOcoin Foundation, the technology behind LEOcoin is once again leading the sector.

What do you need to do?

If you are a LEO Member and hold all of your LEOcoin on the LEO Back Office, then you must log into the LEOcoin Member Platform and choose to Upgrade your LEOcoins.

If you hold all of your LEOcoin on external exchanges like Livecoin, DABTC or LEOxChange, then you do not need to do anything. Your LEOcoin will be automatically upgraded.

If you hold any LEOcoin on an external desktop wallet or a mobile wallet, you need to download the new LEOcoin wallet. This new wallet is already available for download on this page. Once you have a new wallet, you need to go to http://upgrade.leocoin.org/ and swap your old LEOcoins for new LEOcoins. You must complete this process by 21 July 2017.

The makers of LEOcoin have now released a series of screenshots of their new upgraded wallet; the privacy feature is also illustrated in one of these.

Privacy has been one of the most dominant discussions in the cryptocurrency space with the limitation of Bitcoin in ensuring users’ anonymity. There are only a few that are able to provide a cloak for users’ monetary transactions.

With LEOcoin, the anonymity cloak is for anybody in-and-out of cryptocurrency space, especially in times when stealing somebody’s privacy has become a routine job for lawmakers and law enforcers.

Dan Anderson, Chairman of the LEOcoin Foundation, discussed it further and explained:

"The privacy option is one of the most exciting aspects of The Upgrade. Every wallet will start with two addresses, one public and one private. The public address will work in exactly the same way that current wallet transactions work. However, choosing the private option, launches Ring of Trust Technology, which essentially creates and confirms the transaction on the blockchain without publishing the original sending address. Essentially, the coins are destroyed after they are sent from the original wallet and created anew before they arrive with the recipient."

In this latest interview with LEOcoin Foundation's Chairman Dan Andersson, we discuss the success of this new altcoin in 2016, and the project sees Bitcoin's uptrend, and their new services in 2017.

LEOcoin did well in 2016. Even if we regard it as a transition year. In terms of price, in February 2016, the price was around $0.04, currently the price is around ten times that. This is phenomenal development in just one year. Additionally, during 2016, LEOcoin was added to more and more exchanges giving solid increases to daily traded volumes.

This has included being added to a major Chinese exchange as well as multiple English language exchanges. The most significant change for LEOcoin was the successful move form a mixed POW/POS mechanism to a pure Proof of Stake coin. This required a successful hard fork and has created a Proof of Stake structure that has yet to be replicated by any coin that I’m aware of.

We have introduced a tiered system of rewards. For people who hold 1000 LEOcoin they receive 10% extra over a year. People with 5000 coins receive 15% and people with 50000 LEOcoin receive 20%. The impact that this has had on our economy has been massive and it has broken new ground in the sector.

In December, the LEOcoin Foundation worked with the LEOxChange with a massive update that has radically improved that platform and there have been new desktop and mobile wallets developed that are working very well. 2016 felt like the year that LEOcoin sorted out all of the teething issues that it faced at launch and is now in a position to meet it’s full potential.

New Politics, New Banking, New World

Dan Andersson Blog: Huffington Post

It has certainly been an interesting time for the global economy; but for all the doom and gloom and talk of market volatility, we should not forget that recent historic events present an opportunity that we can capitalise on. London-based Bitcoin wallet provider ‘Blockchain’ has opened its 10 millionth digital wallet, making it clear that Brexit and Trump have done little to damage the digital currency sector. In fact the new world order has had a rather positive impact on digital currencies so far.

We have already seen examples of an increase in trading of digital currencies in light of failing fiat currencies; in both Greece and China individuals turned to Bitcoin, hedging against economic uncertainty in their respective countries.

While global currency markets plummeted following the Brexit vote, digital currencies bucked the trend with Bitcoin soaring in value. It seemed, perhaps unsurprisingly, as if people were turning to digital currencies as a safety net.

The anti-establishment tide across the world isn’t just restricted to the world of politics; it’s also sweeping away traditional fintech and allowing digital currencies to flourish.

LEOcoin to educate the government circles about cryptocurrency

The LEOcoin Foundation- a Social Enterprise, strives to promote and educate the government representatives about the potential impact that digital currency can have to change the way the world does business, by constantly meeting them.

The response to this initiative by the LEOcoin Foundation has been overwhelmingly positive so far. Their efforts and the vision for digital currency have clearly impressed the government officials. The use of blockchain technology to solve global financial problems has also struck a chord with the officials. Moreover, the most favourable outcome has been the UK government’s agreement about the fact that UK’s regulation of digital currencies should and does not hinder this industry.

LEOcoin believes it of incredible importance to lead the digital currency conversation and become a key contributor that shapes this agenda.

"Uncharted Territory" Chartered Banker magazine

Regulating cryptocurrencies may well increase consumer confidence, but experts are at pains to stress the dangers of over-legislating a rapidly developing sector.

The founder of LEOcoin, Dan Andersson, expresses a view that adding that mass consumer take-up is the inevitable future for cryptocurrencies and regulations that protect and inspire confidence in consumers will accelerate the process of interfering with their development, and may lead to complications and confusion.

"We welcome a degree of sensible regulation," he says. "Clarity on future regulation would give businesses and consumers a greater steer on how to conduct their own affairs in a cryptocurrency economy. This would support the ambitions of legitimate businesses and users to take advantage of the potential speed, lower costs, flexibility and privacy offered by cryptocurrencies. But consumers must be wary of hyper-regulation – too much regulation in a disruptive environment like that of the digital currency arena is not always a good thing and can actually have a negative impact."

LEOcoin to be a key component in the global monetary system in the next five years

Now people can use LEOcoin with Merchants on LEOcoinMerchants.com and on myLEOTravel.com and also plans to launch a debit card, Thinking of more ways to engage people with LEOcoin, they are keen on expanding its appeal. Now people can even shop with a number of merchants with LEOcoin, in addition to just trading it for Bitcoin or Fiat.

Thinking of more ways to engage people with LEOcoin, they are keen on expanding its appeal. Now people can even shop with a number of merchants with LEOcoin, in addition to just trading it for Bitcoin or Fiat. leocoinmerchants.com, LEOcoin’s own merchant programme has started mapping these out, and the recent addition of LEOcoin to coinpayments.net opens up thousands more merchants that will accept LEOcoin.

A new website, myleotravel.com, has also been launched that allows LEOcoin holders to book hotels using LEOcoin and will soon be adding flights, the LEOcrowd website means that you can fund start-up businesses all over the world using digital currency.

LEOcoin also plans to launch a debit card, which will allow people to hold balances in LEOcoin but when they use the card the merchant will receive whatever fiat currency they want, creating a whole lot more interest in LEOcoin.

LEOcoin Overview: The Digital Currency of Masses

LEOcoin, a private-centric cryptocurrency for small businessmen, has garnered a good reputation for providing users with an impeccable set of digital financing services. The Lion of Cryptocurrency Industry enables people to be the part of a private – and legitimate – finance circle, where they are not made to submit their personal details, such as name, home address, and bank info. This makes LEOcoin a fast, safe and private means of payment, when compared to other digital payment methods.

LEOcoin Foundation has been actively lobbying amongst lawmakers and regulators regarding the entire digital currency community in order to realise their aim of being more than a cryptocurrency platform. Dan Andersson, founder, believes it of incredible importance that the LEOcoin Foundation becomes a key contributor to the digital currency conversation and shapes the agenda.

Furthermore, LEOcoin believes itself to be the coin for mass market and sees itself as a key component in the global monetary system in the next five years; accepted even in local shops.

LEOcoin, A Cryptocurrency for Business Transactions

LEOcoin is a digital currency that has over the time gained the trust of its user base by providing them with an impeccable set of digital financing services. It is a private-centric cryptocurrency for small scale businesses, and is backed by a dedicated exchange.

LEOcoin enables people to be the part of a private – and legitimate – finance circle, where they are not made to submit their personal details, such as name, home address, and bank info. This makes LEOcoin a fast, safe and private means of payment, when compared to other digital payment methods.

LEOcoin’s users existing members have been involved from the start of the LEOcoin development process, and as such they were a ready and waiting community of merchants, consumers and traders when the LEOxChange launched.

The Rise of the Entrepreneur

With job security pretty much a thing of the past, necessity has become very much the mother of invention in the shape of entrepreneurism, and the rise of the entrepreneur is now a defining trend of the 21st century so far.

LEOcoin, "The entrepreneur’s cryptocurrency of choice" opens up a whole new world of international funding options to start-up entrepreneurs.

LEOcrowd is the brainchild of Learning Enterprises Organisation Ltd (LEO), a global entrepreneurship training company with an ecosystem of products designed to help people start their own businesses, including a new digital currency course.

Put these two innovations, crowdfunding and cryptocurrency, together and you have a visionary combination.

We all know that one of the most important elements of getting a business start-up off the ground is securing funding capital. So how best do we get entrepreneurs the capital they so desperately need, whilst leveraging the optimism and foresight of the SME community? The answer increasingly seems to be, ask the crowd.

For too long, some of the best ideas have been held back because it’s been too hard for them to raise money. With the economic tightening since the major debt crisis of 2007/8, and the increasing financial uncertainty of Brexit, borrowing money has become even tougher for entrepreneurs.

We all know that one of the most important elements of getting a business start-up off the ground is securing funding capital. So how best do we get entrepreneurs the capital they so desperately need, whilst leveraging the optimism and foresight of the SME community? The answer increasingly seems to be, ask the crowd.

Crowdfunding has huge potential to really level the playing field for start-up companies. Investment has traditionally been in the hands of big finance and private equity firms, but the rise of crowdfunding platforms and peer-to peer lending has ensured that capital is no longer the preserve of the ‘financial elite’.

Crowdfunding is certainly democratising finance; some people have even argued that crowdfunding has the potential to rectify the gender gap in entrepreneurship. According to data collected by the platform CircleUp, female entrepreneurs are almost ten times more successful in raising capital with online platforms than with traditional banks.

The crowdfunding market has seen huge growth over the past few years, from $1.5 billion in 2011 to $34 billion in 2015. Kickstarter in particular, has become synonymous for crowdfunding; leveraging over $2bn for over 90,000 different projects.

We are already seeing individuals and companies using crowdfunding in diverse areas such as drug development, where medical charities and patients put up funds to research cures for rare diseases, or in the gaming industry where gamers seed-fund computer games they like the sound of where they are rewarded with special characters, items, etc.

This method and logic can equally be applied to global business start-ups. Just like in the popular TV programme Dragon’s Den, now every budding investor can use these crowdfunding platforms to assess a new business project on its individual merits and decide whether to finance it based on a certain reward or share.

Our latest venture, LEOcrowd, is a platform that links project creators to a community of financial backers who are passionate and excited about new ideas and who will fund projects in return for a reward or equity. Just like our work with digital currencies it’s about leveraging peer-to-peer networks.

Last month in fact we recently hosted one of the UK’s premier crowdfunding events in London. Delegates were given the opportunity to meet like-minded business owners and hear from renowned public speaker and author, Mark Earls, on the psychology of the ‘crowd’ in business. It was inspiring to see so many entrepreneurs sharing their innovative ideas and knowledge of how to raise financial capital.

Not only does crowdfunding give entrepreneurs a new avenue to diversify their investments, but it also provides people starting out with a vital stream of capital. What’s more they won’t have to go to a bank to do it. Using the crowd, start-ups will be able to draw upon global currencies, and importantly digital currencies like Bitcoin, LEOcoin and more.

Crowdfunding could really break open the investment world where people and communities could feel they have a real stake in a company and its success, and what better driver of success than success shared. Until recently the gift of investment has been in the hands of big finance and private equity firms - but not anymore.

Fundamentally crowdfunding platforms are changing the way that business is being done; by stimulating the economy, providing opportunity to business funders and fostering enterprise across the world.

The LEOcoin Info app is a valuable education resource on cryptocurrency, blockchains, wallets and more. It offers real-time LEOcoin updates and trends along with a list of markets where it can be bought.

LEOcoin is one of the fastest growing cryptocurrencies, created keeping the needs of businesses and entrepreneurs in mind. The rapidly growing LEOcoin community already has over 206,000 members and a strong merchant participation. The LEOcoin Info mobile application is a valuable addition to the existing arsenal of tools in the LEOcoin ecosystem. Along with key information points about LEOcoin, the mobile application also offers an overview of the whole cryptocurrency ecosystem with market capitalization data of the top digital currencies.

"LEOcoin has a huge potential as a cryptocurrency. It is difficult to predict its growth in the immediate future. But, given that this is the next-generation means of payment, there is much to do in the field. Even banks are aware of the future of cryptocurrencies and they are devoting more and more resources towards development of technology on the blockchain. In the long run, LEOcoin and the LEOcoin ecosystem will definitely make it to the top in terms of market cap," said Babic Mladen, a cryptocurrency expert.

LEOcoin is strengthening its foothold in major economies as it continues to gain entry into new markets. Recently, LEOcoin and its team were well received at an event held in China. The "LEO at the Great Wall" event on 28-29 September 2016 saw a huge turnout with active participation from the LEOcoin community, entrepreneurs, bureaucrats and other important personalities in attendance. Find images from the LEO at Great Wall event here.

LEOcoin Info mobile application has received a great response so far, crossing more than a thousand downloads within days of its launch on both the platforms.

LEOcoin, the open source peer-to-peer cryptocurrency platform now has a new mobile app, LEOcoin Info created by the LEOcoin community.

LEOcoin Community’s latest mobile application, LEOcoin Info for Android and iOS powered smartphones allows users to access basic information about the cryptocurrency at their fingertips. The LEOcoin Info app is a valuable education resource on cryptocurrency, blockchains, wallets and more. It offers real-time LEOcoin updates and trends along with a list of markets where it can be bought.

LEOcoin is one of the fastest growing cryptocurrencies, created keeping the needs of businesses and entrepreneurs in mind. The rapidly growing LEOcoin community already has over 206,000 members and a strong merchant participation. The LEOcoin Info mobile application is a valuable addition to the existing arsenal of tools in the LEOcoin ecosystem. Along with key information points about LEOcoin, the mobile application also offers an overview of the whole cryptocurrency ecosystem with market capitalization data of the top digital currencies.

"LEOcoin has a huge potential as a cryptocurrency. It is difficult to predict its growth in the immediate future. But, given that this is the next-generation means of payment, there is much to do in the field. Even banks are aware of the future of cryptocurrencies and they are devoting more and more resources towards development of technology on the blockchain. In the long run, LEOcoin and the LEOcoin ecosystem will definitely make it to the top in terms of market cap,"

Said Babic Mladen, a cryptocurrency expert.

LEOcoin is strengthening its foothold in major economies as it continues to gain entry into new markets. Recently, LEOcoin and its team were well received at an event held in China. The "LEO at the Great Wall" event on 28-29 September 2016 saw a huge turnout with active participation from the LEOcoin community, entrepreneurs, bureaucrats and other important personalities in attendance. Find images from the LEO at Great Wall event here.

LEOcoin Info mobile application has received a great response so far, crossing more than a thousand downloads within days of its launch on both the platforms.

LEOcoin, the open source cryptocurrency created keeping the needs of entrepreneurs and businesses in mind has been gaining a lot of traction lately. An initiative of LEOcoin Foundation, the digital currency’s increasing popularity is being reflected in the rise of its value.

LEOcoin Info Mobile App

October has been an eventful month for LEOcoin, starting with the launch of its LEOcoin Info mobile application. The LEOcoin Info application is available for both Android and iOS-powered mobile devices. It is a comprehensive cryptocurrency educational and news resource with all important details about LEOcoin. The developers’ understanding of the cryptocurrency ecosystem has played a significant role in the way the mobile application is designed.

Apart from offering basic information, price and real-time trends for LEOcoin, the application features the list of markets in which the digital currency can be traded. The app also lists other major cryptocurrencies, their price trends, and market capitalization to allow LEOcoin holders to make profitable trades between LEOcoin and other digital currencies.

LEOcoin in China

While the LEOcoin application is just a tip of the iceberg, the actual traction is being influenced by the relentless promotional and educational activities undertaken by the top management of LEOcoin Foundation. The prominent members of LEOcoin including Danny Alexander are constantly working with entrepreneurs, diplomats, bureaucrats, government officials, businessmen and the huge 200,000 strong LEOcoin community. In one such recent interaction, the LEOcoin team was in China attending a financial summit. The Chinese event saw Danny Alexander share the stage with Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s top executive to discuss potential strategic partnerships with one of the top economic institutions in the region.

LEOcoin is expecting to work closely with many prominent institutions including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in the near future. The event also had developers, cryptocurrency experts, and other LEOcoin community members in attendance.

LEOcoin’s Technology Shift

The digital currency has been slowing gaining a strong foothold in the cryptocurrency sector. Few changes made to the technology earlier this year has been a contributing factor as well. The digital currency shifted from Proof of Work consensus algorithm to Proof of Stake algorithm to reduce the barrier of entry for users. With the PoS algorithm in place, users are saved from going through the whole process of understanding the technology behind LEOcoin, mining hardware, its operations and more. In order to contribute to the network, the users now just have to keep their LEOcoin wallet open with some balance in it to stake the network.

LEOcoin recently witnessed its value go up by ten times this year. Earlier trading at $0.067 per token, its value now stands at $0.60. With its increasing value, the total market capitalization of LEOcoin now puts it in the 6th position.

Rewards and Trading

LEOcoin also offers an attractive bonus to its community members. The approximate annual proof of stake percentage rewards on the platform are as follows;

LEOcoin Balance

0 – 999.9999

1000 – 4,999.9999

5000 – 49999.9999

50000+

Approximate Annual Percentage

0%

10%

15%

20%

LEOcoin holders can now trade the digital currency on Cryptopia, Leobit, LEOxChange, C-CEX, Livecoin and other exchanges. Soon, there will be more options as LEOcoin continues to add more exchanges.

The increasing popularity of LEOcoin makes it an attractive investment opportunity at the moment. Those who join the LEOcoin community stand to earn a lot in the near future as the digital currency’s value continues to appreciate.

LEOcoin, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrencies by market capitalisation (~$50m), now offers yearly rewards to everyone with a stake of at least 1,000 LEO tokens.

The "cryptocurrency for entrepreneurs", which recently switched from previously implemented hybrid PoW-PoS to 100% Proof-of-Stake consensus algorithm, compared its stake offers with bank-sponsored interest rates, adding that they ensure an unbiased distribution of funds.

Explaining how, LEOcoin stressed on certain limitation of competitive cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, which is getting unfairly centralised due to the increasing cost of mining. It also spoke about the excessive processing energy consumption and the increased risk of 51% attack that are driving profits away from small miners.

As stated on LEOcoin Info, LEOcoin’s dedicated, iOS-approved mobile application, the introduction of PoS algorithm makes its possible for everyone to take part in staking process. The new LEOcoin has eliminated the needs of making huge investments in costly mining machines and electricity. Now, anybody with a mere computer can take part in the mining of LEOcoin, ensuring power to all.

"This staking process occurs automatically, so there is no need be an expert miner or have a powerful computer with expensive equipment in order to mine," LEOcoin Info explained. "By simply staking, anyone can get 10%, 15% or even 20% yearly stake reward in their wallet."

The reward structure works like this: When a user holds 1,000 LEOcoins receives around 10 pc per year as stake, while if h/she holds more than 5,000 LEOcoins, the stake reward gets increased to 15%. Similarly, a user with 50,000 LEOcoins receive a 20% annual stake payout.

On the top of that, LEOcoin token can be used in real world applications as well. The backers behind this innovative project has assured that their native token stay relevant when it comes to spending and trade liquidity. Therefore, LEOcoin today can be exchanged with the leading crypto and fiat currencies, including EUR, USD and Bitcoin. The token can also be spent for travelling and shopping, thanks to LEOcoin’s native traveling and merchant services.

On Thursday this week, Mihir Magudia, representing the LEOcoin Foundation met with Craig Williams MP in the UK Houses of Parliament. In addition to being a Member of the British Parliament, Craig Williams MP is the Parliamentary Private Secretary for the British Chief Secretary for the Treasury. Craig is an important part of the Chief Secretary’s team and was interested to hear about LEO and LEOcoin as well as the potential of this revolutionary technology.

Mihir and Craig had a wide ranging discussion focused on LEOcoin and blockchain technology and future British Government plans for regulating this industry. Speaking after the meeting, Mihir Magudia said, "It was excellent to meet an MP who seemed convinced about the potential impact of digital currency on the way that business is done around the world."

Craig Williams MP also took a copy of the LEOcoin white paper to help him understand more about digital currency and LEOcoin.

The LEOcoin Foundation is constantly meeting with journalists, Government representatives and other industry bodies to promote and educate these people about the potential impact that digital currency can have to change the way the world does business. More information about the LEOcoin Foundation can be found on its website.

This app has been created by the LEOcoin community and has been picked up by leading industry Commentator NewsBTC. It will update LEOcoin followers with minute-to-minute news updates, price alerts, and trends.

It lists all the seven public exchanges that exclusively allows LEOcoin trading "LEOcoin also impresses huge because of its PoS-only feature." Says NewsBTC.com

LEOcoin Info, as the new application is titled, aims to update LEOcoin followers with minute-to-minute news updates, price alerts, and growing trends.

LEOcoinApp.com recently announced that it has launched a dedicated mobile application for LEOcoin users.

LEOcoin Info, as the new application is titled, aims to update LEOcoin followers with minute-to-minute news updates, price alerts, and growing trends. In addition to the aforementioned features, LEOcoin Info lists all the seven public exchanges that exclusively allows LEOcoin trading for other crypto-, as well as fiat-currencies.

The service appears to find itself parallel to LEOcoin’s core motto: To lobby legitimate digital currencies — including itself — in the global monetary system. Over the recent months, LEOcoin truly is one name that can be seen propagating the benefits of decentralised payment technologies in many global forums. The digital currency evidently took part in a recent summit in China, which saw its founders sharing dais with Danny Alexander, the Vice President of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

LEOcoins global presence has ensured that its community grows further, and create a parallel and advanced finance ecosystem for all. This can be further noticed in the rise of its market capitalisation, which since February 2016, has grown by 1000 p.c. LEOcoin right has touched the sixth largest cryptocurrency tag by market capitalisation (~$50 million).

The LEOcoin price has increased from $0.067 in Feb 2016 to $0.60 at press time.

The digital currency also impresses huge because of its PoS-only feature. It earlier used two different algorithms — Proof-of-Work and Proof-of-Stake. But in July, LEOcoin switched to PoS, considering that the said algorithm was more secure and environment friendly than PoW.

"Under PoS users are asked to prove ownership of a certain stack of LEOcoins," says an excerpt from LEOcoin’s official thread. "This makes the our network more secure and over time creates new LEOcoin without consuming large amounts of energy."

LEOcoinApp.com added that for a young cryptocurrency app, LEOcoin Info is experiencing a great demand. The mobile application, which was launched for both iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, has been downloaded more than 1500 times in just 4 days. It also received an instant approval from Apple’s App Store, an app marketplace which is considered pretty stiff when it comes to accepting new applications.

LEOcoin Info helps users learn more about the said digital currency through dedicated information widgets integrated within. Ideal for novices, these widgets can discuss many aspects of digital currencies in details.

What’s further attractive about the mobile application is, its ability to put the idea of decentralisation before competition. LEOcoin info might carry the name of a registered digital currency, but also updates users with day-to-day price updates of many rivalry cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Dash and Litecoin.

LEOcoin is a relatively new digital currency that operates on a blockchain-based, peer-to-peer network. Entering a market saturated with altcoins, this project will have to set itself apart from the crowd if it wants to avoid getting drowned out by all the altcoin noise.

The team behind this project seems to recognize the uphill battle they face, and wants to differentiate their coin by optimizing it for business transactions. LEOcoin, using a proof-of-stake algorithm, is "designed to be a world currency and the currency of choice for entrepreneurs," as stated on the project’s website.

"We combine development skills, international infra-structure [sic], [and] real world entrepreneurial know how," the website reads, "creating a platform for growth second to none."

Bitcoinist sat down with the project’s co-founder and CEO Dan Anderson to learn more about this project, and to ask him how his team plans to succeed in an environment where altcoins are abundant, and respect for them is minimal.

Tell us a little bit about LEOcoin’s background, what inspired its creation?

LEOcoin was created in June 2014, and has been backed by a dedicated digital currency exchange (www.LEOxChange.com) since April 2015. It is the first digital currency to be launched in the UK that is designed for small business owners; allowing individuals to make fast, secure and cost effective transactions through a decentralised peer-to-peer network. The usability and accessibility of the currency positions LEOcoin as a world currency and the currency of choice for entrepreneurs.

The unique opportunity LEOcoin offers compared to other digital currencies is that it was created with an oven-ready community of users via LEO’s global community of entrepreneurs.

The big picture is to help the millions of people all over the world, who are frankly poorly served by existing multi-national institutions. The arbitrary barriers placed in front of them are frankly offensive and we think that LEOcoin can be part of the answer to break down these institutional roadblocks to people trying to earn a living and do business.

How are you funding this project?

LEOcoin was created and developed by the LEOcoin Foundation. The main funder of the Foundation is LEO, an e-learning and education business dedicated to meeting the needs of small businesses and entrepreneurs.

What is the purpose of Leocoin, why should people use it instead of Bitcoin or any other altcoin?

LEO has a global community of merchants and members who were keen for a way to trade internationally without the barriers and restrictions that come with conventional currencies.

An ambitious collaboration to develop a new form of digital currency for the settlement of financial trades on a distributed ledger (the technology underlying bitcoin) has been announced.

Dan Andersson, welcomed the financial sector’s recognition of the value of blockchain technology, but expressed serious concern that the move could see the world’s biggest banks attempt to "hijack" the sector and crowd out those working in disruptive finance technology.

The LEOcoin Foundation has recently released a white paper detailing the cryptocurrency’s progress so far and the road ahead.

LEOcoin has been constantly gaining the attention of entrepreneurs, governments and private enterprises across the world. The digital currency is empowering individuals and businesses by offering them a fast and secure mode of transaction. LEOcoin and its accompanying infrastructure is being developed by The LEOcoin Foundation and allows merchants to make use of the digital currency for their day-to-day business.

Unlike most of the altcoins out there, LEOcoin has achieved a great deal of success in a very short span of time. LEOcoin was created in June 2014, but the digital currency started gaining widespread media attention after The LEOcoin Foundation launched the first dedicated digital currency exchange – LEOxChange. Very recently, LEOcoinmerchants.com launched as a site to provide a directory of LEOcoin merchants. As The LEOcoin Foundation pushes forward to create a diverse digital currency ecosystem, the Foundation has recently released a white paper explaining the vision for the future of digital currency.

The recently issued LEOcoin White Paper offers a brief background of the digital currency followed by the platform’s future roadmap for technical improvements and increased adoption. At a time when the global economy is registering a steady decline, digital currency assets like LEOcoin offers a monetary alternative whose value doesn’t diminish the same way as fiat currencies.

Six years ago, a cryptocurrency was used as a medium of exchange for the first time - that precedent was later called the most expensive pizza delivery ever.

Many things have changed since back then, but Bitcoin - not to mention more than 700 altcoins - still only seeks to be considered an adequate alternative to fiat money.

CoinTelegraph spoke to Mihir Magudia, Сommunications Director at LEOcoin Foundation, about the potential of digital currencies and the main reasons for the arrest of their development as a method of payment.

Being understandable and easy to use is the key

Magudia believes that it’s important to help people understand the power and potential of digital currencies, and to show them how they can benefit most from it. This can change the way that business is done.

LEOcoin is a pseudonymous digital currency, which is working within a decentralized peer-to-peer network, entirely on a PoS validation algorithm, and was made specifically for small business owners. The currency was created in 2014 by Learning Enterprises Organization (LEO) - a company specializing in eLearning, eTutoring and skills development for entrepreneurs. Such a background let LEOcoin find 200,000 advocates, young entrepreneurs nurtured on LEO educational programmes, at once.

Magudia explains:

"LEOcoin is designed to be easy to use and participate in. Entrepreneurs and businesses need a coin to be stable and they need it to be mass market, that is what we are working on."

Is it real money?

Creating a large and loyal community is not a decisive advantage, albeit an important one. When moving further, every cryptocurrency takes its own path.

One of the most popular and straightforward ways of "socializing" a cryptocurrency is to introduce it as a method of payment on all kinds of online shops and trading platforms. Quite predictably, Bitcoin is the absolute leader in this field. The coin is seemingly supported by everyone - from international tech and IT giants to small local companies across Europe.

All in all, there are quite a few places where a consumer can purchase a desired commodity or receive a service in exchange for Bitcoins - the numbers are, at least, enough for niche media to publish user guides, and a dedicated stores map to be filled with marks. The situation is more complicated for altcoins, but there is hope - a lot of cryptocurrencies - the most popular ones definitely being on the list, are supported by the CoinPayments platform.

Additionally, more platforms are gradually appearing, which make it their principle of operation to support new digital currencies (such as Ethereum, Steem, Dash, and others) alongside Bitcoin; one such platform is BlockPay, for example.

LeoCoin, in turn, is supported by such projects as My LEO Travel and LEOcoin Merchants.

My LEO Travel is an online hotel booking platform, which was launched a couple of weeks ago. The range of the service’s features is yet to be expanded: soon the users will also be able to book cars and air tickets.

The second project, LEOcoin Merchants, is a trading platform which can be used by suppliers of goods and services from all over the world. Potential consumers and businesses looking for clients can easily meet each other on this platform. Probably the only condition to use this service is that both sides have to accept and use LEOcoin as a payment method.

Community vs. regulators

Today, Bitcoin has managed to win such trust and love of the community that all kinds of organizations and businesses are growing around it on their own; it’s impossible not to mention the Bitcoin Foundation, which is a precedent of sorts.

On the other hand, there are large commercial entities, which attract impressive amounts of capital, with the exclusive goal of financing promising startups and developments on the Bitcoin market.

It’s somewhat different in the industry of altcoins. Of course, one can mention such projects as The Rudimental; it was also founded by people from the "outside", who just believed in the technology. But more often than not, if a ‘young’ digital currency, which isn’t wildly popular at the moment, has some sort of closely associated project or organization, the coin’s creators are most likely behind that.

LEOcoin Foundation is placed somewhere between the aforementioned options. It is an international non-profit organization, which is engaged in the development of both LEOcoin itself, and its infrastructure. The organization’s activities are spread in several directions. Firstly, it’s a sort of a driving engine and a guide for everything regarding LEOcoin: it conducts research, educates, engages and integrates.

The Foundation facilitates efficient interaction between private and corporate entities, government and non-government, commercial and non-profit organizations. Additionally, LEOcoin Foundation is always prepared to financially support all worthy contributors, irrespective of currency affiliation.

All activities are subject to one main goal - make LEOcoin not just an element of the global cryptocurrency ecosystem, but also a mass market coin.

LEOcoin, the cryptocurrency created by London-based LEOcoin Foundation has announced a change to its protocol in order to make it more robust and user-friendly. The organization has reported a successful migration from the previously used Proof of Work consensus protocol, similar to that of bitcoin, to a more efficient Proof of Stake consensus protocol. In addition, LEOcoin has also added more products into its portfolio.

By using a Proof of Stake algorithm people without access to specialized equipment like ASICs or mining farms can now participate. Anyone who can operate a computer can now take part in the staking by opening a LEOcoin wallet. This method offers a reduced carbon footprint for creating coins.

New reward structures for staking depending upon the number of coins held by each participant has also been implemented. Dan Andersson, the co-founder of LEOcoin offered a brief outline of the new rewards structure where those holding 1000 LEOcoins or more will receive about 10 percent returns per year, while those with 5000 and more will receive 15 percent and those with over 50000 would be receiving 20 percent returns on their stake each year.

There are also new platforms being created to help spread adoption of LEOcoin, as well as other digital currencies. The latest products include My LEO Travel and LEOcoin Merchants. My LEO Travel is a travel and hotel booking platform where people can plan trips and pay with LEOcoin alongside other payment options. LEOcoin Merchants is a recently launched site that displays merchants and businesses who are happy to accept LEOcoin in payment for the goods and services. Recently, LEOcoin was supported by a representative from the Chinese Embassy to the United Kingdom among others in an event which saw diplomats from over 20 countries in attendance.

LEOcoin, calling itself "the bitcoin like cryptocurrency for entrepreneurs," has transitioned to a Proof of Stake mining algorithm after completing its Proof of Work phase. In addition to this mining transition, the project has added new products to its portfolio.

The LEOcoin Foundation reports that the coin’s transition to Proof of Stake will allow everyone to participate in mining without having to acquire specialized equipment. This low cost approach allows people to stake the coin through a simple button-click in the free wallet client. The Foundation also touts the energy efficiency of Proof of Stake, calling its cryptocurrency a "greener alternative to Bitcoin."

Moving into the Proof of Stake phase, LEOcoin co-founder Dan Andersson has announced the implementation of a new reward structure for staking, determined by the size of the stake held by the user. The basic outline of the reward structure is as follows:

1,000 or more coins: 10 percent return per year

5,000 or more coins: 15 percent return per year

50,000 or more coins: 20 percent return per year

To spread the coin’s adoption, the Foundation has launched two new products: My LEO Travel and LEOcoin Merchants. My LEO Travel is a travel platform where people can plan trips and book hotels, paying with the coin. LEOcoin Merchants displays merchants who accept the coin for payment.

About LEOcoin

LEOcoin is a digital currency created in 2014 by the LEOcoin Foundation for entrepreneurs and businesses. The digital currency allows individuals to make fast and secure transactions over a decentralized peer-to-peer network. Like Bitcoin, LEOcoin offers a certain degree of anonymity and it is simple and easy to use. The Proof of Stake algorithm used in LEOcoin also ensures active community participation, further strengthening the network every passing day.

Bitcoin Press Release: LEOcoin, the bitcoin like cryptocurrency for entrepreneurs has shifted from the previously implemented Proof of Work (POW) to Proof of Stake (POS) consensus algorithm. LEOcoin has also added few exciting products into its portfolio.

LEOcoin, the cryptocurrency created by London-based LEOcoin Foundation has made an important change to its protocol to make it more robust and user-friendly. The organization reports successful migration from the previously used Proof of Work consensus protocol, similar to that of Bitcoin to a more efficient Proof of Stake consensus protocol.

The introduction of Proof of Stake algorithm makes it possible for everyone to get involved in the staking process, without having to invest in specialized equipment like ASICs or mining farms. Anyone who can operate a computer can now take part in the staking by opening their free to use LEOcoin wallet and clicking on a button. By eliminating the need for specialized equipment LEOcoin offers a greener alternative to Bitcoin, drastically reducing the carbon footprint for every newly created coin.

LEOcoin has also introduced a new rewarding structure for staking depending upon the number of coins (stake) held by each participant. Dan Andersson, the co-founder of LEOcoin offers a brief outline of the new rewards structure where those holding 1000 LEOcoins or more will receive about 10 percent returns per year, while those with 5000 and more will receive 15 percent and those with over 50000 will be receiving 20 percent returns on their stake each year.

There are also new platforms being created to help spread adoption of LEOcoin, as well as other digital currencies. The latest products include My LEO Travel and LEOcoin Merchants. My LEO Travel is a travel and hotel booking platform where people can plan their trip and pay with LEOcoin alongside other payment options. LEOcoin Merchants is a recently launched site that displays merchants and businesses who are happy to accept LEOcoin in payment for the goods and services.

LEOcoin is a digital currency created in 2014 by the LEOcoin Foundation for entrepreneurs and businesses. The digital currency allows individuals to make fast and secure transactions over a decentralized peer-to-peer network. Like Bitcoin, LEOcoin offers a certain degree of anonymity and it is simple and easy to use. The Proof of Stake algorithm used in LEOcoin also ensures active community participation, further strengthening the network every passing day.

LEOcoin has been appreciated by various diplomats and bureaucrats from across the world. They have also extended their support to the digital currency ecosystem created by LEOcoin. The founders of LEOcoin have participated in various international events and gatherings, rubbing shoulders with powerful people from governments who are striving to promote entrepreneurship and businesses in their home countries and outside alike. Recently, LEOcoin was supported by a representative from the Chinese Embassy to the United Kingdom among others in an event which saw diplomats from over 20 countries in attendance.

If Brexit has left you bewildered and wondering where your job is going from here, why not tap into your inner entrepreneur, pursue your own dreams of business success and explore ways to achieve your goal without the limitations of geographical boundaries?

Bridging national boundaries

With a little help, you could learn the entrepreneurial skills you need and run your own international business wherever you are in the world. In fact, one organisation, with an international outlook, might just have the solution you’re looking for. With its headquarters in the UK and offices in five continents, Learning Enterprises Organisation Ltd (LEO), is a truly global company with an appeal that bridges national boundaries. This Brexit-busting business offers a wide range of services and products to help the entrepreneur of today, who thinks on a worldwide scale. By harnessing the potential for globalisation the Internet provides, LEO leaps beyond isolationist issues to offer groundbreaking international business solutions.

WAH CANTT: A Pakistani firm deals in pumps industry has become first Pakistani enterprise which has joined LEO coin community by starts business in digital cash which is also called Crypto Currency. Engineer Motasim Khan of IMEC Solutions Pvt Limited while talking to newsmen here on Monday said that the firm which deals with world famous KSB Pumps has said that the firm has got distinction by becoming first pump company of the world which has starts business in Digital Cash. He was of the view that this initiative would bring trade and opportunities in our country. He suggested that other enterprises should study LEO coin and start this new payment system.

In his explanation, he said that LEO coin was launched on 22-6-2014 by Learning Enterprise Organization Ltd UK. The Eco system of LEO coin is being managed by LEO coin Foundation. And after one year it has gained attention around the globe and 32 thousand merchants in 120 countries have accepted it as Payment System. He said that since the beginning of human history for buying and selling there has been different payment systems, in ancient times there was a barter trade system person to use to exchange goods with other goods.

Malik Mohammed Yousaf Director LEO, Pakistan Chapter while briefing on this occasion has said that there was an era when gold and other metal coins came in as a new payment system. He added that then came the currency notes which were printed against gold or silver and with the start of 21st Century the concept of Plastic money came as new and modern payment system where you buy things while using the Credit cards. He said in 2009 Staoshi Nakamotoo invented the Digital Cash like Crypto Currency named as Bitcoin. This became very popular with the passage of time, now-a-days people are very familiar with it around the world.

Meanwhile Zia Aftab Khan Shakoori, a prominent and professional Hakeem and Proprietor of Shakoori Markaz-e Adveat Wah Cantt has also announced and joined Leo coin community as merchant to accept Digital Cash.

Principally, digital currencies have been perceived by the wider world as the domain of the technically minded; reserved only for those with an in depth understanding of ledgers, cryptography and with access to the vast amount of computer power supposedly needed for the mining process.

Technical jargon aside, digital currency can actually offer something incredibly valuable to the masses and to the global economy. At LEOcoin we have always maintained that the real power of this monetary innovation lies in its ability to level the playing field and democratise finance.

That is why we have taken the exciting step to change how everyone can mine LEOcoin, by shifting to a 100% Proof of Stake system. Continuing our ambitions to be the digital currency for the mass market, we are hoping that this change will lower the barrier entry to make LEOcoin accessible for everyone.

LEOcoin, a cryptocurrency founded in Britain and designed for entrepreneurs, has today shifted from a combined system to a 100% Proof of Stake system. It’s founder’s vision for it to be the digital currency "for the mass market" is enforced by this change, which is designed to democratise the currency by lowering the barriers to entry, making LEOcoin even more accessible to everyone.

Dan Andersson is delighted to announce that LEOcoin was awarded the Industry Innovation Award at the Direct Sellers Association of Canada Annual Conference. This award is an incredible recognition of LEOcoin, the power behind this revolutionary digital currency and the way that it is leading the sector.

Commenting on the award, LEOcoin co-creator Dan Andersson said, "I am incredibly proud of what has been achieved with LEOcoin in such a short time. We are on the cusp of our next great leap forward, the move to Proof of Stake, and I'm grateful to the Direct Sellers Association of Canada for this recognition."

LEO is a company that doesn’t just teach people about entrepreneurship, it practices entrepreneurship as well.

In addition to developing educational products for entrepreneurs, LEO has developed new tools to help small businesses develop all across the world. LEOcoin is a digital currency that enables small businesses and individuals to take electronic payments from anywhere in the world, with tiny transaction costs. LEOcrowd is a new crowdfunding platform that allows entrepreneurs from many countries pitch their ideas to potential investors who want fund new businesses and projects. Unlike other crowdfunding platforms, and in line with LEO’s global focus, people using LEOcrowd can accept funding from almost anywhere on the planet.

Money as a concept has changed a lot over the years - from mounds of salt back in Roman times ('salary' is derived from the Latin for salt) through to gold, then innumerable currencies and now to today's vast digital transactions. Sure, there's a lot of cash still sloshing around, but the big deals are all electronic.

Increasingly that's trickling down to us consumers too - from Wave and Pay in your local city bar, paperless bank statements and Oyster cards, through to rumors that Denmark is planning to go entirely digital. old money is on the run.

What's surprising is that your established high street bank is currently all in favor of digital transactions - they're cheaper to manage and a chance to slice off a fee.

Currently the second-largest digital currency in the world, LEOcoin (which stands for Learn, Educate, Own), has already signed up 24,000 merchants and can boast a community of over 131,000 members since its launch in January.

Looking to appeal more towards small businesses and entrepreneurs, LEOcoin differs from Bitcoin and other such competitors in that it doesn’t charge commission for intermediaries, effectively cutting out the middleman and offering signicant savings for businesses using the currency.

It is announced that new crowdfunding platform, LEOcrowd, has been launched. The platform, which uses cryptocurrencies to carry out funding, was designed specifically for entrepreneurs and those with creative ideas to source alternate finance to fund their projects. LEOcrowd General Manager, David Johnstone, explained: ‘LEOcrowd is more than just another crowdfunding platform, it is a community devoted to bringing creative ideas or start up business to life.’

It is announced that the new crowdfunding platform, LEOcrowd, will launch globally at an event in Stockholm, Sweden, on 16 April 2016. The platform, www.LEOcrowd.com, was designed specifically for entrepreneurs and has a mission to ‘set entrepreneurial spirits free’.

We are proud to announce that Dan Andersson was invited to speak at the Chamber of Digital Commerce: 'DC Blockchain Summit' at Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business in Washington DC, USA, on 3rd March 2016.

LEO congratulates Sir Danny Alexander on his appointment as Vice-President and Corporate Secretary of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, in Beijing. In March 2015, LEO CEO Dan Andersson met Sir Danny Alexander at the HM Treasury and had very positive discussions on LEO's global business. Dan Andersson commented: 'I am so happy to see that Sir Danny has been appointed to this role of great importance…We look forward to continuing our discussions with him as he settles into this new and important role.'

Blockchain’s potential to change the way many banking processes – including correspondent banking – function has created a dilemma for financial institutions uncertain of how best to use the exciting new technology.

LEO announces that it has debuted the beta version of LEOcrowd, a new crowdfunding platform. CEO and co-founder of LEO, Dan Andersson, said: ‘For too long, some of the best ideas have been held back because it’s been too hard for them to raise money…We are therefore delighted to be able to launch LEOcrowd, as a platform to get great ideas off the ground and to help people realise their vision.

Roaring success – LEO expands into Israel after joining a trade mission to the country with Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. Dan Andersson said the company now has local representatives in Israel, its 11th overseas market.

LEO was proud to be one of just 16 companies selected to participate in the UK Trade & Investment Trade Mission to Israel - a delegation that included Boris Johnson MP and Mayor of London, and David Quarrey, UK Ambassador.

Since digital currencies leapt on to the scene in the early 1990s, they have been steadily gaining traction in the financial sector. Dan Andersson discusses the differences between legitimate digital currencies and Ponzi schemes, explaining that legitimate digital currencies, like LEOcoin, are traded publically on exchanges, and have the potential to fundamentally transform the way business is done across the world.

Mihir Magudia met Adam Afriyie MP, Chairman of the UK Parliamentary Group on Financial Technology, to discuss LEOcoin and digital currency. Adam was impressed with the way that LEO is using LEOcoin to solve global financial problems, and said that we must make sure that UK regulation helps and does not hinder this industry, which has so much potential.

LEO has now officially opened for business in the Philippines. Dan Andersson said: ‘Establishing our business in this market, which represents a major international trading environment, is a very significant step in the growth of LEO.’

UK success story, LEO, the founders of new digital currency LEOcoin, have seen dynamic growth across Europe and Asia. In an event to celebrate this success LEO are hosting a number of performances of Swan Lake across China by the Romanian National Ballet – starting in Shanghai.

LEOcoin Foundation joins Chamber of Digital Commer

The LEOcoin Foundation has recently become a member of the Washington DC-based Chamber of Digital Commerce (CDC), the trade association for the digital asset and currency communities.

That may not excite you that much. But for me it’s very exciting. This is another significant step in establishing LEOcoin as a major player in the digital currency marketplace.

We are now at the table, part of a dynamic effort to engage with policy makers in the US, still one of the biggest marketplaces for digital currency. We are there with a whole cross section of the digital asset community, including exchanges, wallets, payments processors, miners, issuers, software companies, financial institutions and investors.

The CDC is actively encouraging the acceptance and use of digital assets and related technologies, committed to growing the thriving digital community.

It’s also about setting regulatory and self-regulatory standards which is something else we are passionate about. We don’t want regulation that will stifle entrepreneurialism and drive it underground, but we do need standards that will ensure anyone trading in a digital currency, merchant or buyer, is secure.

In addition to its advocacy work, the Chamber also provides educational programs on topics like anti-money laundering compliance, and holds member briefings on policy developments that impact the digital asset community.

Policy makers and individuals from around the world are increasingly waking up to the potential of digital currency. In just the past year 32,000 merchants have signed up to accept LEOcoin and our membership has expanded to a community of 166,000. The lion is roaring.

As China’s economic growth slows down and digital currencies, like LEOcoin, see an increase in trades in light of the falling Yuan, Dan Andersson asks: Could digital cash help a business during an economic slowdown/recession, and could that in itself help shorten the downturn by keeping the economy moving?

It says a lot about the power China wields in our global economy that the West has gone into mild panic at the prospect of China’s growth slowing down. Whilst many countries in the EU are still fighting the reality of recession, the idea of growth, even if it’s slowing, is but a mere pipedream.

China’s exports have fallen 8% and the Yuan continues to fall in an attempt to halt that – though the CPC assures us this won’t be for long of course.

Having worked in China for many years, I have first-hand experience of their industriousness and their hunger to be the best at whatever they do. Our Oxfordshire based entrepreneurial skills company, LEO, has a huge user base in China with many small business owners seeking to expand their enterprises.

Indeed part of the reason we founded LEOcoin last year, a new digital currency (currently the world’s third largest), is because I was so inspired by Chinese entrepreneurs and their drive to trade. It seemed to me, and still does, that there were millions of businesses calling out for tradable liquidity that wasn’t subject to the whims of government or a central bank.

Digital currency offers an opportunity for instant international, secure, private trading outside of punitive international charges and regulation. As an economy stagnates there is nothing more important to a business than the ability to keep trading, that’s how you keep an economy moving.

Could digital cash help a business during an economic slowdown/recession, could that in itself help shorten the downturn by keeping the economy moving? Perhaps not such an outlandish idea.

Digital currencies like ours and Bitcoin, for example, are already seeing an increase in trades in light of the falling Yuan, Greece has seen similar activity. In fact the idea of a more formal adoption of digital currency in Greece was an idea put forward by none other than their (now former) finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis. What you might not know about Mr Varoufakis is that he is an economist in his own right, with some interesting ideas on digital currency. Varoufakis proposed an idea where the Greek government could issue its own digital currency to provide solvent Greek businesses with liquidity, the trade up being businesses buy the tender off government in exchange for a future discount on taxes.

His proposition is interesting not least of all because not only does it fly in the face of current fiat economics, it also flies in the face of the main reason people use digital currencies in the first place – namely that they are not government tender.

That said, it is an interesting idea to play with. Could digital currency be a vital key to unlock growth for businesses, an avenue for them to keep trading with other businesses both at home and abroad as the state crumbles around them? For businesses and entrepreneurs it is the ‘access to cash’ during a crisis that could be the vital life line to recovery. The fact that a digital currency, like LEOcoin, is ‘stateless’ could be the key factor allowing a business to keep trading without the need to interact with government or a bank even – perhaps this is why we have so many users in China?

People are looking to currencies whose value lies with the community who use it, rather than a nation state; and that needs to be the long-term vision for digital currency.

Dan Andersson is co-founder of LEO and LEOcoin.

This article is an exclusive for CapX, and is available for syndication. Please contact [email protected] to discuss details.

You would have to have been living in a cave these past few years not to be aware of the travails that currently afflict the Greek people and their economy. As the Greeks debate the choice that apparently faces them, the Euro or the Drachma, there could be other options on the table. What about digital currency? Also known as ‘cryptocurrency’, this includes our very own LEOcoin.

The future of financial transactions

In this weekend’s UK-based Independent newspaper there was a fascinating article about how the world of financial transactions will look in 2030 – just 15 years away. While consumers in their 20s and upwards may recall saving coins in a piggy bank, they are unlikely to have seen a cheque and the debit card will be close to obsolete. In what is likely to be a cashless society, transacting will be done via mobile apps, facial recognition or even RFID (radio frequency identification) chips - not necessarily implanted but carried in your watch or phone.

In other news, the Danish Government last week announced that, subject to approval by Parliament, it hopes to have phased out cash transactions by as early as 2016, allowing retailers to accept only card or smart phone payments.

Digital transactions are very popular in Denmark with a third of all Danish citizens using the Danske Bank app, MobilePay, to pay for services and transactions. It’s unlikely that the new proposals to ban all cash transactions will be met with any opposition.

The speed of change in society can be daunting for some – but truly exciting for many. Those who aren’t afraid to embrace change are those who will go furthest in business. Who wold have predicted 15 years ago that digital currencies would be as popular as they are today? The ability to transact without involving third parties or paying fees, seamlessly and simply on your computer, is catching on around the world. LEOcoin now has over 10,000 Members actively trading on the LEOxChange with average traded volume of 600,00 LEOcoins per month.

LEOcoin launches new ready-made mining rigs that can be used by all, regardless of their technical experience. Dan Andersson says that the new mining rigs offer a more customised and secure form of digital payment.

Dynamic growth and exceptional training services for entrepreneurs have seen LEO recognised as a leading direct selling company. Now LEO is the proud Diamond level sponsor of the 2015 DSA 50th Conference event.

Small is beautiful

Not only the title of EF Schumacher’s, at the time, controversial look at modern day economics, it’s also what we believe when it comes to financial transactions.
The core of Schumacher’s argument back in the early 70s was that we were becoming over obsessed with ‘gigantism’, and that big was not always best. So while we might dream big, the reality is that much of today’s business is driven by entrepreneurs and small to medium sized enterprises. And for those starting out, small transactions and the ability to make them quickly, can drive spontaneous sales and boost profits.

Whatever your business, entering credit card details and taking the hit of transaction fees for small sales is time consuming, costly and frustrating, not to say a drain on your profit margins. That’s why there is a general move towards driving down transaction costs through, for instance, the introduction of online apps targeting micro businesses, which we welcome. But even small percentage transaction fees add up if you are selling a small value, high volume service or product.

A digital currency such as LEOcoin is ideally suited to processing micropayments because it’s already transaction free – which is why we are experiencing such an enthusiastic and positive response to LEOcoin around the world. We’re ahead of the wave folks – join the LEOcoin revolution!

An International Family

One of the aspects of digital currencies we like most is how they break down barriers. LEOcoin is a secure, transparent and easy way to do business with customers around the world. Every day our list of merchants is growing as businesses globally recognise the benefits of this way of transacting. We’ve got motor dealers in Pakistan, language services in Japan, sculptors and artists in China and a trader of energy saving hardware in Germany. You name it, you can now probably find a LEOcoin merchant who can offer you the product or service you want.

One of our successful merchants is Boris Gregorc. He’s CEO of the Slovenian transport and distribution companies Speed d.o.o. and Bomag d.o.o, and he is using the LEOxChange to grow online sales, particularly for Bomag which was founded in 2004 and imports German motorcycle and scooter tyres to Slovenia and Croatia, as well as fire wood and pallets across Austria, Germany, Hungary and Italy.

For someone trading across so many borders, LEOcoin is perfect to keep costs low and trading simple and reliable and we were delighted to meet Boris at our launches in London and Hong Kong and congratulate him on his success.

Let the numbers do the talking

We already knew transaction fees were a major barrier to growth for small to medium sized enterprises seeking to trade internationally. So we weren’t surprised when a survey we commissioned from YouGov in the UK confirmed it.

Of those surveyed, almost 50% of small to medium sized enterprises in the UK who trade internationally said transaction fees were a key concern; and 43% who transacted using debit or credit cards were also worried about the associated costs.

That’s why digital currencies, and LEOcoin in particular, are proving particularly attractive to emerging start-ups and entrepreneurs - because there are no intermediaries charging commissions. The numbers speak for themselves: we’ve now got a staggering 150,000 entrepreneurs worldwide actively using LEOcoin and over 3,000 merchants around the world have agreed to accept LEOcoins as payment.

Our survey, which questioned 1,102 senior decision makers in UK SMEs (up to 249 employees), also revealed, however, that there was reluctance to using a digital currency . We believe that’s because, up until now, the complexity and inaccessibility of digital currencies has discouraged take up.

And that’s the opportunity for LEOcoin. The gap between those businesses worried about transaction fees and yet reluctant to use a digital currency is the gap we believe LEOcoin will fill. It is designed to make life easier for entrepreneurs who want to trade internationally but have to put up with very high transaction costs. Our message to them and their customers is that there is a better way of doing business. The LEOcoin way.

LEOxChange is open for business

Not only did we have our UK press launch in the Tower of London, a mere stone’s throw from the Royal Mint, but we have also officially started trading LEOCoin on our LEOxChange!

In a packed ballroom of the Hyatt Hotel in Hong Kong more than a dozen journalists from across China joined us, not to mention over a thousand LEO members, all eager to find out more.

Coincidentally, our launch comes a matter of days after the UK Government announced its plans for regulating the digital currency sector.

Amidst all this activity, it felt like appropriate timing, to hear more about the Government’s planned direction of travel in this area. LEO took part in this consultation, including meeting personally with the Treasury on the issue, as we believe that careful regulation is critical.

To summarise, the Government’s key announcements are:

an intention to apply anti-money laundering regulation to digital currency exchanges in the UK (which LEOCoin has already registered for), to support innovation and prevent criminal use. There will be formal consultation on the proposed regulatory approach early in the next Parliament.

plans to work with the British Standards Institution (BSI) and the digital currency industry to develop voluntary standards for consumer protection.

a new research initiative bringing together the Research Councils, Alan Turing Institute and Digital Catapult with industry in order to address the research opportunities and challenges for digital currency technology, as well as increase research funding in this area by £10 million to support this.

The Government has also announced that the Financial Conduct Authority’s ‘Project Innovate’ will work with HM Treasury and the Prudential Regulatory Authority to investigate the feasibility of developing a regulatory "sandbox" to allow financial services innovators to test ideas at an early stage without excessive regulation, but with the informed consent of consumers and proper risk management.

A ‘sandbox’ approach is certainly what’s required in these early days. While we support regulation, over-zealous intervention runs the risk of dissolving the core benefits of digital currencies: privacy, security, low to no fees and free marketability. In an extreme case, it could restrict legitimate business and create another black market.

The process is ongoing and we are continuing to actively engage; and now the currency is live we will be able to bring real world examples to the table!

A new YouGov survey, commissioned by LEOcoin, has revealed that 85% of businesses surveyed are either ‘not very likely’ or ‘not at all likely’ to accept digital currencies like Bitcoin in the future. Dan Andersson, co-founder of LEOcoin said: ‘The industry needs to do much more to establish its credibility’.

Bitcoin-beater unveils LEOxChange at Tower of London event. The cryptocurrency market is about to become a lot more competitive following the launch of a new user-friendly trading exchange based on the world’s second-largest currency - LEOcoin.

Dan Andersson met Matt Hancock MP, British Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, and Harriet Baldwin MP, Government Whip and Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury to discuss the potential of LEOcoin to impact global financial systems. Dan said: ‘It is great to see members of the British Government wishing LEOcoin well.

LEOxChange launch dates announced

LEOxChange launches at the end of March and two very important dates to enter into your calendar right now are March 27th for the London launch of LEOxChange and March 29th for the Hong Kong launch of LEOxChange. Keep up to date on https://www.facebook.com/LEOcoin.org

What is a cryptocurrency and why you should know about them?

Cryptocurrencies were established in 2009 with the launch of Bitcoin, in response to individuals seeking increased anonymity and control around financial transactions. If you transact through a bank or other financial intuition, a whole range of people have access to this information. With cryptocurrencies, the only record of your finances, until you complete the transaction, is on an anonymous online ledger, accessed via a computer or smart device. There is no central body to authorise or track transactions – these tasks are carried out collectively by the digital currency network themselves. In effect, it’s a private currency, completely decentralised.

Despite a modestly paced entry into the marketplace, mainly due to the sophistication of the equipment required to trade in Bitcoins, there are now around 13.5m Bitcoins in circulation, being transacted by around 2.6m individuals in up to 100,000 transactions a day. It’s not unusual to now see signs in coffee shops and bars offering to trade in Bitcoin and you can even load up your smart phone or electronic wallet at Bitcoin ATMs in London, Bristol and Brighton.

Technology available to bring cryptocurrencies to a wider and more diverse audience, both users and merchants, is moving so fast that new generation of cryptocurrencies, such as LEOcoin, will be able to offer everyday users an even swifter, simpler and more streamlined service than their predecessors. Although you still need a computer or smart device to get involved in the digital currency world, you don’t need expensive add on equipment in order to get going.

Like any new development in society, crypotocurrencies won’t immediately appeal or be relevant to everyone. But rest assured, digital currency is here to stay so if you want to ‘ride the wave’ of the most exciting thing to have hit the financial markets in decades, seriously consider investing in a cryptocurrency.

The UK Government calls for information on cryptocurrencies

LEOcoin recently contributed its thoughts to the Government’s ‘Call for Information’ on the proposed regulation of digital currencies, which closed on December 3rd 2014. The consultation received nearly a hundred responses which shows just how interested people are in the subject. Currently there are few regulations imposed on cryptocurrencies, other than standard money laundering regulations.

LEOcoin supports the development of steps that can be taken to create more confidence within the mainstream population. But overzealous intervention could dissolve the core benefits of cryptocurrencies, namely privacy, security, low to no fees and free marketability. In an extreme case, it could restrict legitimate business and create another black market.

The entire cryptocurrency ecosystem, both legal and otherwise, is evolving so quickly that legislators are now preparing to make rules for circumstances that have no precedent. Cryptocurrencies require a whole new way of thinking, and a much more flexible approach from governments. It is important to allow precedent to develop legally within the free market framework – rather than detour the course of cryptocurrencies in their infancy.

As we prepare for the public launch of LEOcoin in a couple of months’ time, we hope the UK will adopt a supportive and entrepreneurial mind-set or risk being left behind by other more progressive countries.

Changing the world, one coin at a time

Buying a house, funding the Jamaican bobsled team at the Winter Olympics, or ordering a pizza. These are just some of the ways you can currently spend cryptocurrency.

One of the comments we often hear is that there’s no easy way to spend digital currencies. Well, if you take a look at the range of merchants who are already accepting Bitcoins in the UK, then maybe you will change your mind. You can order a takeaway from around 7,500 listed restaurants, pop into a number of pubs for a quick pint, buy a bike to pedal off the excess or travel in style by hiring your own private jet. You can even rent a designer dress and jewellery for the occasion. And just this month, Microsoft announced that it is now accepting Bitcoin for all digital purchases through BitPay. This includes Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox software.

Why are people welcoming more choice in financial transacting? Because digital currencies offer a range of benefits over traditional fiat currencies: privacy, security, low to no fees and free marketability. The enterprise community in particular is excited about a more flexible and faster way to build their businesses, without wading through miles of red tape.

According to the Treasury, it is estimated 20,000 people in the UK currently hold Bitcoins – and around £60m worth are circulating in the UK economy. The market for a new cryptocurrency, like LEOcoin, is huge and the pace of its development is faster than ever. We are going to change the face of how people do business – one coin at a time.

An introduction to the world changing cryptocurrency: LEOcoin

When people mention cryptocurrencies they probably think of Bitcoin, which blazed a trail for digital currency when it launched in 2009. However, in the future, when the world looks back at how cryptocurrencies changed the way the world transacted, they will think of just one coin: LEOcoin.

LEOcoin was forged in May 2014 when entrepreneur Dan Andersson saw the opportunity to create a new currency designed for entrepreneurs and ordinary people.

Because while cryptocurrency has grown exponentially in recent years, few have managed to capture the imagination of those who remain flummoxed by the technical jargon and perceive that cryptocurrencies aren’t relevant to the way they do day to day business.

This is where LEOcoin comes in. Technology in the sector is now moving at an incredible rate which has allowed LEOcoin to position itself as the ‘next generation’ cryptocurrency: simpler, faster and more cost effective to use than its forerunners.

The system that LEOcoin is built upon has three key features. Transactions are anonymous, the network is 100% secure and most importantly, it is designed with user friendliness and accessibility at its core.

LEOcoin has been built to be as simple and straight forward as possible. It is designed to have mass market appeal and has the potential to rock the foundations of financial systems the world over.

By making the currency open and accessible to anyone it will encourage entrepreneurs and ordinary people to take on the coin as an alternative to fiat currency; or cold hard cash. From the touch of your mobile phone or click of your mouse you can have access to your very own LEOcoin wallet, with the option to purchase coins with fiat currency or earn them through as mining (an individual with a computer supporting the processing power needed to maintain a cryptocurrency ledger).

There are already 80,000 people globally with LEOcoins in their wallet. These are members of the LEO training academy who have been rewarded with LEOcoins as a bonus on a closed exchange. That means that when the exchange goes live in early 2015 the currency will be the second largest cryptocurrency in circulation; just behind Bitcoin.

In six months’ time you will be astonished by the locations and businesses that will accept LEOcoins, allowing you to purchase goods and services around the world.

If you missed the first microwaves, mobile phones and the launch of smart phones - don’t miss LEOcoin.

Register for your wallet today and join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Reddit and YouTube and be part of the future of currency. http://www.leocoin.org

LEOcoin was among the organisations and individuals that lodged some 70 submissions to the HM Treasury’s consultation on digital currencies in December 2014. 'All we are asking,' said co-founder Dan Andersson, 'is for the UK government to start to understand the idiosyncrasies of crypto-currencies and to recognise the benefits they bring…

Dan Andersson raises LEOcoin and cryptocurrencies with British Government Minister, Stephen Williams, and discusses the potential for cryptocurrencies, such as LEOcoin, to radically transform global financial systems.